Maasvlakte Power Station (E.ON)

Maasvlakte Power Station in Rotterdam, Netherlands is proposed by E.ON to have an installed capacity of 1100 megawatts with a notional commissioning date of 2011/12. The proposed coal-fired power station is proposed to be built adjacent to the existing E.ON 1,100 MW power station at the site.

In March 2006 E.ON stated that "E.ON Benelux has decided in favour of a new power station based on pulverised coal technology. This is the most reliable and cost-effective technology, meeting the most severe European emission requirements. The new power plant will be built on the basis of clean coal technology, in order to meet all IPPC emission requirements. E.ON Benelux will increase the energy efficiency of the new power station by around 20% compared with current Dutch coal-fired power stations, at least to an energy efficiency level of 46%. The latest technology also enables a reduction of CO2 emissions by some 20% per kWh. Furthermore, studies are underway into possible further increase of energy efficiency via heat supply to greenhouses and industrial clients."

In its 2006 announcement E.ON stated that "coal-fired power stations are better suited for baseload. Also, coal prices are less vulnerable to severe fluctuations in the world market than gas and oil."

Project Development
In April 2008 Power in Europe noted that "E.ON says all it needs to proceed is a natural habitat license and a construction licence, which it hopes to get in early 2008. Greenpeace asks Council of State to strike down environmental licenses granted to E.ON Benelux for this project."

Carbon Capture and Storage Demonstration plant
At the time it announced the project in 2006, E.ON stated that the company "is currently conducting a number of studies into CO2 sequestration. The new unit will be prepared for CO2 sequestration, as soon as this technique is commercially applicable. Potential for burning biomass will also be integrated into the design of the plant."

In February 2009 E.ON announced that it had teamed up with the Rotterdam Climate Initiative (RCI) to examine the possibility of of adding CCS to the proposed plant.

For more details of the CCS project see Rotterdam Capture Storage and Demonstration Project.

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